Peru Hotels

As a major tourist destination, Peru has a wide array of accommodations suited for every traveler's budget and needs.

Luxury Hotels and Peru Resorts

In the major cities, tourist attractions and national parks of Peru, luxury hotels and resorts abound. Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Amazonian parks all have world-class accommodations-for a price. If you are willing to shell out, resorts and fancy hotels have richly-furnished rooms, professional, English-speaking staff, and varied amenities. For a more relaxed setting, you should check out the luxury options on the outskirts of major cities. Business hotels cluster downtown.

Budget Hotels and Hostels

You do not have to spend a bundle to get a good night's sleep in Peru. Hostels can be found in every city and most smaller towns. Many will have a range of options, such as private and dorm rooms, and rooms with shared and private bathrooms. In the warmer parts of Peru, budget hotels should still provide mosquito nets for guests, as the presence of malaria and dengue fever make it a matter of safety.

Haciendas

Like the rest of Latin America, Peru was once home to many haciendas, elegant country estate homes owned by wealthy citizens during the colonial and republican periods. Some haciendas were administrative centers from which a single family could rule dozens of indigenous villages like medieval dukes. Although historically linked to oppression and exploitation of indigenous society, there is no denying that the stately buildings, often with balconies, gardens, stables and courtyards, are tranquil, beautiful and well worth a visit.

In some countries, such as Ecuador, many haciendas have been turned into first-rate guest homes. Unfortunately for Peru, many of the country's most attractive haciendas were taken over by the government between 1968 and 1972, during the agrarian reforms of President Juan Velasco. Many of the best haciendas were given over to cooperatives, which allowed them to deteriorate into rubble, and some were looted and burned. In the best of cases, the marvelous old buildings were merely neglected. A few haciendas have survived, however and, due to the booming tourism industry in Peru, they have been refurbished and marketed as hotels. Areas of high tourist traffic are seeing more and more of them, especially in the Sacred Valley near Cusco.

Most of the haciendas in Peru are in the upper-middle price range. Many offer a wide range of activities, from mountain biking to horseback riding, as well as tranquil gardens, terraces and beautiful rooms. If a stay at a colonial hacienda is within your budget, it is certainly worth it to check one out.

Eco-Lodges

Eco-tourism in Peru has boomed in the last decade, and, as a result many eco-lodges have sprung up around the country. However, many hotels masquerade as eco-lodges without following any basic steps of ecological protection; make sure that the lodge really does take measures to minimize their effect on the environment. See Eco-Tourism in Peru for more information.

Spas

Spa and relaxation tourism is growing internationally, and Peru is no exception. Many travelers come to Latin America eager to spend a night or two at a spa, where a day of massages, Jacuzzis and mud baths costs a mere fraction of what it would at home. Most spas in Peru offer a variety of massages, steam rooms, aromatherapy and Jacuzzis. Some offer yoga, specialized treatments, sound therapy, mud baths and more. Every spa has its own specialties, so check what services they feature before you go. Generally, massages and other treatments can be ordered individually, or as part of a package.

Camping

In a country with such distinctive landscapes and cultures, many visitors look for more intimate and unique accommodations while in Peru. Camping is available at some of the national parks, and in most small towns someone will let you camp on his or her property. Costs are low, and sometimes you will find a place to camp for free. Formal campsites sometimes have bathroom and cooking facilities.

Many people camp while doing multi-day hikes or outdoor activities such as biking or whitewater rafting. Often these multi-day trips are organized by tour operators, who will provide all equipment (tent, sleeping bag, camping stove etc.). If you are camping independently however, the tourist hubs of Cusco, Lima, Arequipa and Huaraz all have camping shops where you can hire or buy whatever you need. If you're trying to save on costs, bring your own equipment from home.

If you plan on camping independently make sure you place your tent in a safe place and that (ideally) the campground has a place to lock up valuables. People have been known to camp on the beach in Peru, but this can be dangerous; ask locally if it safe to do so.

Other Hotel pages in Peru that may be of interest: Pacific Coast South of Lima Hotels, Centenario Lodging, Aguas Calientes Hotels, Iquitos Hotels, Tarapoto Hotels, Lámud Hotels, The Sacred Valley Hotels, Jalca Grande Hotels, Lima Hotels and Paracas Hotels.